Sandy beaches

We could divide the beaches of Karystia into 4 categories: the beaches in the bay of Karystos, those in the Cavodoro, the north coastline of Karystia and the beaches around Marmari.

The bay of Karystos is of a horseshoe shape forming two headlands facing south, while its coastline is over 20 km long. The massif that overlooks the bay (Mt Ochi) gradually loses its height towards the southern coasts, where it forms a series of beaches with shallow, warm and calm waters.

The beaches on the eastern coast have more rocky sea-beds in comparison with those of the northern and western coasts which are sandy and quite shallow.

All these beaches are very clean as Karystos is connected to a main sewage system and a biological waste disposal system, which eliminates any risk of water pollution caused by domestic detergents and other waste.

Some organised beaches (with umbrellas, sun-loungers, changing rooms, cafés, cantinas etc) are: 

• Psili Ammos, 
• West beach, 
• Bouros-Agalma 
• Agia Paraskevi

The non-organised beaches within the bay of Karystos are: 

• Matalia Bouros, Karystos
• Agia Irini (Koutsoukou beach), Karystos
• Vagonakia, Dikigorou, Chalasma, Kolibithra, Svoli
• Nissaki beach
• Ripiovrachos
• Marmara
• Agios Antonios
• Agios Athanassios
• Livadaki
• Katsouli
• Pera Katsouli (Kali Kira)
• Elia, Palaiopythara, Kalyvi Saravanou
• Mnimata
• Agia Paraskevi
• Kalamitsi

Remote beaches in the Cavodoro

For most of the east coastline of Karystia, Mt Ochi maintains a high altitude and as it meets the sea it forms many high cliffs and few beaches. It is mainly the mountain torrents that over the years have cut through the mountain, forming narrow valleys and gorges and quaint beaches at their mouths. Access to these beaches by land is rather hard. It is much easier to reach them by boat. There are few which are accessible by fairly good roads. 
In the vast majority, these beaches are remote and are enclosed by high cliffs. 

All of them face east and their seabed, either sandy or rocky, shows all the characteristics of a coastline that is weathered by large waves. It gains sudden depth, has very little algae and almost no shells. 

These large waves are a result of the strong air and water currents formed in the straits between Karystia and the Cycladic island of Andros. When the wind blows, one has to be very vigilant. For winds between 3 and 4 on the Beaufort scale we have to be very careful entering the water. From 5 Beaufort or more, going in the water is not a wise option at all. 
 

• Potami beach
• Kastri beach
• Amigdalia beach
• Zacharia (Mylos) beach
• Archaboli beach
• Evangelismos beach
• Dipotamos beach
• Limionas (Spilitses) and Linari
• Livadi, Platis Gialos, Agioi beaches
• Avlakia beach

The north coastline of Karystia features steep cliffs that plunge into the sea and a few beaches. It is mainly the mountain torrents that over the years have cut through the mountain, forming narrow valleys and gorges and quaint beaches at their mouths. Access to these beaches by land is rather hard. It is much easier to reach them by boat. There are few which are accessible by quite good roads.

In their vast majority, these beaches are remote and are enclosed by high cliffs. 
All of them face east and their seabed, either sandy or rocky, shows all the characteristics of a coastline that is weathered by large waves. It gains sudden depth, has very little algae and almost no shells. 
These large waves are a result of the strong northern winds of the Aegean Sea. When the wind blows, one has to be very vigilant. For winds between 3 and 4 on the Beaufort scale we have to be very careful entering the water. For 5 Beaufort or more, going in the water is not a wise option at all.

The main beaches of northern Karystia are (from west to east):

Vareleoi, Giannitsi, Schinodavlia and Kallianou.

The beaches of Marmari have more or less the same characteristics as those of Karystos. The waters are shallow, warm and clean and they are easily accessible.

You could find more information in the Karystion Hotel.